The opening of pressed raw material bales is one of the most dangerous and laborious jobs in the mill. To break open the bale straps a worker has to split the straps or wires using an axe or crowbar. This often leads to injuries, especially with the more frequently used high density bales.  

The OPTiCRAC offers:  

• Working safety: During the opening process the operator sits protected in the fork-lift. The machine is equipped with safety bars and emergency stops. In stand-by mode or between the bale straps no energy is stored in the cutting unit. The machine is equipped with noise absorbers.  
• Speed: The automatic cutting of a whole bale is done in 8 - 10 seconds.  
• Work reduction: The handling of a heavy axe or the laborious cutting with a crowbar is eliminated.  
• Better bale cleaning: The difficult arduous task of opening the bale is done by the machine, the operator has more time and energy to clean and inspect the bale.  
• Low costs: The machine is of simple rugged construction with low power consumption, no hydraulics are used. The low cost replaceable cutting knife is manufactured from special steel. A proven standard industrial computer control is used.  
• Flexible operation: The pulse method of strap cutting has proven superior over a wide variety of bales.  
• Staff reduction: The use of OPTiCRAC with rotating bale clamp and support elements enables the bales to be arranged and laid by one person.

The process is explained as follows:

The bale is taken and driven to the OPTiCRAC. The fork lift presses the bale against the OPTiCRAC. The machine is automatically aligned to the bale by a pivot mounting. The two safety panels must be pressed with a force of over 72 kg to start the opening process. A carriagem which is tracked inside the machine, drives along the bale. On the carriage the sensor and the cutting unit are mounted. The radar-like sensor detects the strap or wrappings. A computer processes the signals of the sensor and controls the cutting unit. The unit is triggered when the cutting knife is precisely opposite the bale strap or wire.